Analyzing Cold War Interpretations: Key Themes and Questions
School
York University**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
HST 304
Subject
Political Science
Date
Dec 12, 2024
Pages
1
Uploaded by MinisterDuckPerson437
Focused on International RelationsExam questions have no right answer- point needs to be well arguedFocus on the larger themes not the specific detailsAvoid general terms and concepts like proxy wars or puppet government because they aren’t clear nor accurate: every single concept used has to be proved (better not to claim it - e.g. smaller powers often manipulated the larger powers and aren’t actually puppets)US claims of defending free world: Often supported clear military dictatorships notdemocraciesGreat powers more often sucked in (then heavily influenced) conflicts and didn’t actually start them (with few exceptions)For the Readings:- First read the introduction, then the conclusion and then the rest of the chapter- The first sentence of each paragraph contains the main argument (should write this way in the paper)- Technically possible to just read the topic sentences + introduction and conclusionHistoriographical Interpretations:- Orthodox School: It was Stalin’s fault- Heavily US influenced (US universities, Truman admin)- No access to any archival information2 viewpoints:- Liberal: Truman did everything right- Conservative: Truman should’ve done more to prevent Stalin- Revisionist School: Fault of the agressive nature of US capitalism (US market expansion into Europe undermining Soviet)- Also no archive access- Soviet and left perspective- Post revisionist School: 60% Stalin; 40% US (Stalin instigated and the US overreacted in responses)- Archive access to US sources only- Post-post revisionist school: Americans are more responsible than USSR (US overreaction more important)- Archive access to US sources only- Left’s response to post revisionist school to shift blame to the US- “New Cold War History”- Access to US, Soviet, French, German, British, Vietnamese, etc. And plenty of archives (archival revolution of the 1990s)- First to address Cold War as a whole period (it ended) rather than addressing it as it goes on like the other schools- Non American historians participating much more and bring in regional perspectives- Answered all the old debated and questions, not formulating new questions: tied to the old schools- New questions now being askedHistory: How we interpret and make sense of the past => History != The pastWon’t be directly asked in examsQuestions to Think About for the Whole Course:- What was the Cold War about? What is the Cold War?- Why did it start, why did it continue as it did (could it have ended earlier?), and why did it end? Did it start/end at different times for different locations?- Is there one or many different Cold Wars?
